Another book that is sure to be a hit this year that is similar to Where'd You Go Bernadette, Lessons in Chemistry gives us the witty, matter of fact, intelligent Elizabeth Zott.

Set in the 60's we read about a smart female scientist trying to make it in a man's world. This book is inspiring, laugh out loud funny, heartbreaking, and quirky. My favorite part of this book though was the dog, Six Thirty. Oh I loved him so much! He added a special element that I enjoyed reading so much. And I, of course, teared up during the author's note when she acknowledges her own dogs.

I would recommend this book to anyone that loved Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I hope this becomes a movie or TV series because I think it would translate well.

TW: sexual assault, suicide.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

Historical fiction with a contemporary feel, Lessons in Chemistry tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, a chemist turned TV cooking show host and the series of events that took her from one to the other as she battles the sexism of the 1950s/60s. The best thing I can say about this book is that it's nice. In the way getting an extra candy bar from the vending machine is nice - it feels good in the moment but you likely won’t remember it long term.

There is zero character development and it was hard to understand how Zott, an adult woman who has lived her entire life in mid-century America, could still be so naive about how the world works. Except for the times she wasn’t. She’s that annoying breed of book character that was clearly written with a modern sensibility without any of the historically accurate baggage.

I’m sure there will be many people who will love this book, but I knew it wasn’t for me the moment we started getting the dog’s perspective.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
👩🏼‍🔬Elizabeth Zott fights to be a chemist in the 1960’s.

👍🏼I adored the humorous and touching writing in this book. There is an amazing cast of characters, special shout out to Six Thirty the dog, but Elizabeth truly shines here, I honestly loved everything about her.

✅This book is hard to fully describe but it is a fabulously written witty and poignant debut that I promise you will love! Go in blind and just enjoy the chemistry 🧪

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5

Damnnn this book was epic. I need more badass women chemists like Elizabeth Zott!

Lessons in Chemistry follows chemist Elizabeth Zott. Elizabeth has her share of troubles trying to get taken seriously as a woman chemist in the 1960s. Add into that single motherhood and things are looking shaky for her. Then comes Supper at Six, a cooking show that skyrockets Elizabeth to fame for her unique perspective and way of addressing her audience. Not everyone is happy, because not only is she teaching about nutritious meals, she's also daring her fellow women to challenge the status quo.

I really enjoyed this book! I need more women in STEM in my books. I loved the friendship between Elizabeth and Harriet. I loved how determined Elizabeth was to follow her passion. When she built her own lab in her kitchen while pregnant, I knew I was a goner for her. Every time Elizabeth comes against sexism and misogyny, she stays so cool and logical. I wish I could be as contained as her. She has so many good come backs to the stupid shit men tell her too. I'm just going to have to remember everything she says so I can strive to be that much of a badass.

Besides facing misogyny and sexism in her work, there's also a family saga going on in the background of this book. I don't want to say too much about it because seeing it come together in the ending was so rewarding and made my heart fill with joy. I really loved how family was an important theme in this book, in all its various forms. Also Six-Thirty is the best dog ever! And he does not die in the book.

The only thing that detracted from this story was the obvious lack of women of color in this book. There were no notable women of color. And the fact that this takes place in the 60s makes me question where they are. Elizabeth was incredibly knowledgeable. She mentions more than once in the book that discrimination based on skin color has no scientific founding and is ridiculous. It made the lack of WOC much more obvious.

Rep: white cishet female MC, white cishet male MC, white cis gay male side character, fat white cishet male side character, various other white straight side characters.

CWs: Sexism, misogyny, sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape/attempted rape, death, car accident (someone is run over on page), grief. Moderate: past mentions of child abuse/death, homophobia/homomisia, suicide, religious bigotry, death of parent, consensual sexual content, domestic abuse (side character). Minor: pedophilia, racism mentioned, past mentions of car/train accident (not shown on page but discussed).

Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday for the eARC of this book.

Wow! This was super quirky! I felt like I was riding the Timberwolf at my local amusement park as I vacillated back and forth between do I like this? I don't like this. Am I crying? What is happening?

In the end, the last half of this book was more entertaining for me than the first.

Sidebar - Why are books 400 pages? It takes me back to reading law school textbooks and that ship has sailed. I just want a book that can tell a great story in 300 pages or less. I said it.

The last book I read (Unmasked - RTC) made me think everyone was trying to kill me in the dead of night, so this book did give me a reprieve from my thoughts of impending doom.

It had some funny parts. If you are a science buff, this book will likely be right up your alley. I don't remember ever taking Chemistry, so there is that.

What else?

There was a talking dog. Well, at least a dog that knew hundreds of words and could have an internal dialogue with himself.

Love cooking shows? There is one of those. I'm obsessed with all things food, so I loved reading about the unorthodox cooking show where beakers and bunson burners were used over your standard kitchen equipment.

This story takes place in the late 1950's, early 60's, so the whole you should be a Susie Homemaker and no one will take you seriously because you are a woman asinine bullshit was also present throughout. I did appreciate the main character giving that stereotype the bird and then some.

This book is classified as historical fiction, but it also has a little bit of romance and mystery, but who cares about labels anyways.

I liked it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

A joyful and witty feel-good novel with a feminist touch, introducing Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist and accidental star of a television cooking show. Despite her groundbreaking research, nobody takes Elizabeth seriously as a scientist at her lab. In fact, everyone belittles her, steals her work, and even abuses her, except for Calvin Evans, the shy and accomplished star chemist. When Elizabeth finds herself a single unemployed mother, she reluctantly agrees to be the lead of a cooking show, but only if she can teach her audience of California housewives about science, equality, and self reliance along with her recipes for chicken pot pie and spinach casserole.

Lessons in Chemistry is a hilarious and heart-warming dramedy with a lot going for it: there are nonstop plot twists and a whole parade of quirky characters, including a plucky protagonist, a supportive genius boyfriend, a battalion of villainous bosses and envious colleagues, a witty and kind sidekick neighbor, a precocious child, a magnificently trained dog called Six-Thirty, and an early 1960s Southern California setting, filled with sunshine, opportunity and workplace misogyny.

While I didn’t adore the book, I found it enjoyable to read as a nice break between heavier novels. I thought the characters and the plot were entertaining but exaggerated (everyone is a genius, including the dog!) and the story a bit formulaic, like Mad Men meets Julia Child with a secret Dickensian benefactor. Despite my reservations, I think it’s a well written and high spirited novel, which will no doubt become a bestseller and a smash hit TV series. If you’re looking for a charming, witty, comforting read with unforgettable characters, you will be enchanted by the intrepid no-nonsense Elizabeth Zott. A delightful debut by Bonnie Garmus.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I know we’re only a few months in, but I’ve already found my favorite book of 2022! “Lessons in Chemistry” and its wonderful protagonist Elizabeth Zott are absolutely intelligent, refreshing, witty, and completely engaging. Zott is a woman ahead of her time – a female scientist struggling against bias and sexism in a male-dominated profession, where her brains and talent are routinely dismissed and her research stolen by less capable men looking to take credit for her work.

Set in the 1950s and early 1960s, this novel is smart, wryly observant, and simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. Its pointed commentary on gender and society remains all too relevant in our current day, showing us how far women’s equality has come, and how far we still have to go.

This novel made me feel all the feels – delight, pride, and awe in Elizabeth’s triumphs; frustration, anger, and sadness at the injustices she endures. Some parts of the story will have you laughing out loud, others will move you to tears. Rich and impeccable characterization is the key to making this novel extraordinary. Elizabeth’s voice is fresh and unique, and I felt like I was in her head the entire time. I love how this novel highlights the power of female friendships and the importance of women empowering each other. "Lessons in Chemistry" is the kind of book you want to share with your friends and is perfect for book clubs too!

I AM COMPLETELY ENAMORED, OBSESSED WITH, AND GENERALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. It has everything! There's feminine independence, clever writing, switching perspectives, even a love story (that doesn't manage to overshadow the rest of the plot). There's even a dog who can read! Honestly, what more can a lover of books and dogs and cooking ask for?!

And if Elizabeth Zott isn't a female protagonist you root for, then I'm not sure one exists.

I will be recommending this book forever and always; honestly, it's going to be hard to beat this one as my favorite of 2022. It's only March, and I can already tell you that. Completely wonderful. I loved the characters and the plot and the structure. I'm so impressed by the mysteries that revealed themselves but didn't dramatize what was already a wonderful story. I'm in love, that's all there is to it.

This book was great! I enjoyed Elizabeth. She really makes this story a stunning one! I loved the other characters as well, even the bad ones! This was such great writing. The story was fantastic!

Truly enjoyed this book. Could totally relate to being a woman in a man's world - it was the norm in the 50's & 60's. This book covers that subject in so many ways.

Loved the unlovable Elizabeth and Calvin - would have loved seeing their story together play out.

Great read - would be an awesome book club selection.

"Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus
PERSEVERE you might learn something
In the beginning I PERSEVERED, in the middle I LEARNED some things, in the end I LOVED this story. For me about the first quarter of the book the story seemed to rather slow. I'm not sure if it truly was the story or if it was just how my mind-set body was relating to the world at that point in time. But I did persevere and I am so very glad I did. Because the bits and pieces in the first two-thirds of the story began to blend together and create a cohesive whole. A story that made me laugh and cry. For anyone with an open mind or willing to open their mind, well this is certainly a book club worthy read. Whether you are male or female be prepared to relate and most likely learn. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I requested and received an ARC of this story from the publisher.
This review expresses my honest opinion.

Bonnie Garmus has done a wonderful job in presenting an unorthodox protagonist with her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry. Meet Elizabeth Zott, a 1960s woman who loves being a chemist during a time when women were expected to be housewives.

After being forced out of college early, she takes an underpaying job at Hastings Research Laboratories. There she meets and falls in love with the brilliant and famous chemist, Calvin Evans. When Calvin is out of the picture, Elizabeth gets fired after learning she is pregnant out of wedlock. Eventually, she goes back to Hastings, only to be mistreated once again. Through a chance meeting, Elizabeth is hired to star in a live afternoon cooking show called Supper At Six. The station manager wants Elizabeth to dress sexy and cater to dumb housewives. Instead, Elizabeth teaches women the chemistry involved in cooking and encourages them to achieve greater things. She is a breath of fresh air in the stale male-dominated world.

I couldn’t help but laugh and cry with Elizabeth as she struggled to be the best mother and chemist she could possibly be. I’m pretty sure that this eccentric character will be one of my favorites in 2022.

4.5-stars rounded up to 5. Book club recommended. Thanks to #NetGalley and Doubleday Books for my advanced reader copy. The expected publication date is April 5, 2022.

Loved this quirky, fun story focused on our main character, Elizabeth Lott, as she navigates career, marriage and raising a daughter as a single mom. Set in the 1960s, reality isn’t advantageous to smart, independent, female scientists. Elizabeth faces sexism, bias and condescension about the things she tries to do both professionally and personally, but she has a very strong sense of herself and her values. She won’t compromise those even in the face of adversity. It was compared to Where Did You Go, Bernadette and I agree that the quirkiness of our main character and the tenacity of a young daughter are elements to the story. It was also so much fun!! I loved it and would read other books that have the same feel. Great book

I went into this book unsure of exactly what to expect. It was a delightful surprise. The writing style is tight, precise, and incredibly funny and insightful. The story dips in and out of various characters' voices in a way that is unique, exciting, and insightful. The characterization is impeccable, and despite the many threads of plot that are unspooled, they all come together in a satisfying conclusion that is not drawn out. I am genuinely sorry that I will never be able to read this book for the first time again. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the domestic housewife culture of the 1950s, women in science, and a really good love story that is not limited to romantic love.

What a delightful book! I ran through so many emotions as I read this book.

We are following the life of Elizabeth Zott, as she struggles while trying to get her advanced degree, when she meets the love of her life, Calvin, (a brilliant Chemist who falls in love with her mind) and then when she runs a cooking show.

Elizabeth is an unashamed scientist, who is determined not just to make coffee and takes notes, as her 1960's peers expect her to do. With Calvin at her side, they make great progress towards their scientific goals, When life throws her the worst curveball, she throws herself into being the best parent possible to her daughter, while trying to keep herself together - mentally and physically.

Laugh out loud funny at times, but sad in others, this book wasn't quite the light and fluffy read I expected. It deals with some very real and difficult subjects. I love Elizabeth's character - quirky, intelligent, fiercely independent and unwilling to give in to the bullies that seem to surround her.

A wonderful read.

It has been a long time since a book touched me so deeply. So much relatable humor, truth, depth, romance, heartbreak, and triumph, that even though it takes place in the past it is just as relevant today. The title of the book put me off a bit initially, but after reading it, I can't imagine one that would be better. The pages are filled with great characters, even the dog! I don't want to give too much away except to say this is a MUST read.

When Sandra Day O’Connor (who became the first female Supreme Court Justice) graduated from Stanford Law School in 1952, she couldn’t find a paying job as a lawyer. This despite having on the law review and graduated Order of the Coif (top 10%). This is how bad sexism was in the professional world at that time.

Why am I talking a out Sandra Day O’Connor? Because like Sandra Day O’Connor, in 1952 Elizabeth Zott, the lead character in this book, has also just left university and is trying to make a living in her chosen profession. Zott is brilliant and talented, but like O’Connor, the men dominating her field (chemistry in her case), don’t give her any credit. They’re happy to sexually harass and even assault her, but never to take her seriously.

Elizabeth Zott experiences episodes of misogyny so deeply hateful that I finally had to have a big glass of wine—in the middle of the afternoon—to calm myself down. Finding herself grossly underemployed and needing to keep her little family afloat, she accepts an out-of-the-blue offer to host a cooking show. She isn’t interested in the usual domestic roles, but she sees cooking as chemistry and decides that she’ll take the job and its great pay and just be herself. It turns out that it works. Unconventional and sometimes controversial as the show is, it’s wildly popular with women because it takes them seriously as people with intelligence and ambitions.

The biggest plus in the book is its characters, especially Elizabeth, her daughter Madeleine, long-suffering TV producer Walter, supportive friend Harriet, and even more supportive dog Six-Thirty. Six-Thirty sometimes turns narrator, which would be unbearably cutesy except that his thoughts are just how you’d like to think a smart dog would look at humans. I enjoy books about smart, educated women, so I did enjoy reading about Elizabeth, especially when she does things like whack a heavy bag into the groin of a man who insists on feeling her pregnancy bump despite Elizabeth’s warning him to back off.

The other big plus is Garmus’s writing. She has a great wry style. It’s hard to pick my favorite lines, but one I like is an observation about it’s understandable that stupid people don’t know they’re stupid—because they’re stupid—but shouldn’t unattractive people know they’re unattractive because of mirrors? (By the way, this is about a man who is ugly inside and out.) Or how about the cooking show episode in which Elizabeth suggests how much a certain poisonous mushroom looks like the regular straw mushroom, but that she’s sure everybody in her audience has perfectly nice husbands who respect their wives and they would never deserve a mushroom mix-up.

I so enjoyed this book. Yes, it’s often unrealistic; a sort of feminist revenge fantasy and/or wish-fulfillment fable. But so what? Don’t we all need one of those sometimes? I am definitely putting Bonnie Garmus on my authors-to-watch list.

Note: I’ve gone back and forth in my mind about whether to say anything about this, but I suppose I should mention that if you are a religious person, especially a serious Catholic, it’s probable that you will be offended by Elizabeth’s (and the book’s) observations on religion and on Catholic clergy and institutions.

Lessons in Chemistry has it all - romance, strong women, family dynamics, obstacles to overcome, and even a tiny hint of mystery. Set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, this book features strong women, with the main character Elizabeth in STEM long before it was considered acceptable for a woman to have a career. We follow her story through all of the highs and lows of life, and she has some very low times. If you enjoy quirky characters and animals with personality (along the lines of A Man Called Ove), then this book is definitely for you. Lessons in Chemistry is not afraid to confront issues head on, so don't expect a light and fluffy book. Nor does it dwell on heavy subjects - there are many funny and quotable phases! It strikes a wonderful balance and was exactly the book I needed right now. 4.5 Stars

There is nothing I can write that could fully cover how much I loved Bonnie Garmus’s debut "Lessons in Chemistry." I could write a twenty page paper on how much I enjoyed it and why, and I’m positive it still wouldn’t be enough. This book is like nothing I’ve read recently and I’m telling you right now to read it.

The book is funny with sharp and witty dialogue—and not just funny, but snort laugh tears running down your face funny. It’s feminist, tackling the struggles women faced in the 60’s—especially women who didn’t conform to job and marital expectations. It’s packed with unforgettable characters—some you will love and others you’ll wish you could punch in the face. It’s about the strength of a unconventional family. One that’s made up of a dog, friends, fairy godmothers and a mother daughter duo that perseveres in the face of tragedy and ridicule. And at its core, it’s about Elizabeth, the woman who refuses to be anything other than her authentic self and in doing so, unintentionally inspires a nation of women. When you combine all of the above ingredients you have a recipe for a book that will shatter your expectations, move you to tears from both laughter and pain and permanently imprint itself on your heart.